Norwood light department reports steady electric rates, outlines broadband rollout and infrastructure projects

Kevin Shaughnessy, superintendent of the Light Department, told the Board of Selectmen on June 24 that the department is holding electric rates steady and has no plans to raise them this year, while flagging rising transmission and energy costs and renewable procurement requirements as pressures on future budgets.

Shaughnessy said the utility’s credit metrics have improved in recent years and reported a stable S&P outlook. “We haven’t raised them. ... We have no plan to do so,” he said, describing recent debt reductions and improved liquidity.

Why it matters: The Light Department manages electricity distribution for the town and sets rates that affect residents and businesses. The department’s capital and replacement projects — including a planned solar field on a landfill, a major underground cable replacement, pole replacements and substation work — affect reliability and future borrowing and operating costs.

Key projects and operational updates: - Peak load and immediate performance: Jason Haber, assistant superintendent for electric operations, said the system hit a 2025 peak load of about 80 megawatts during the recent heat wave. He reported one small residential transformer overload but said crews held the system together. - Landfill solar field: An EPC contractor (Milton Cat) has been selected; commercial operation was earlier targeted for Dec. 31, 2025, with staff estimating completion possibly in early 2026 depending on procurement delays for racking and other equipment. - Cable replacement (EPR project): The Light Department is replacing about 11 miles of aging paper-insulated conductor with new cable; staff estimated the project value at roughly $7,000,000. - Transmission maintenance: The department is surveying an underground transmission line with manholes subject to salt and groundwater exposure. As an ISO New England approved transmission facility, certain transmission maintenance costs are reimbursable through regional mechanisms. - Pole replacements and distribution work: A multi-year inspection identified 343 poles; 90 have been replaced so far. The department also described recent commercial service upgrades (Moderna, FM Global, Amazon, Whole Foods) and the new Cokley Middle School service energization.

Broadband (Northern Light) rollout: Daryl Hanson, assistant superintendent for broadband, said roughly half the town has been cabled and about 2,200 homes are prepped and ready for installation. The department is doing a phased soft launch, finalizing billing and work-order systems before broader marketing. Hanson said Northern Light will offer symmetrical fiber plans starting at $59.99 (lowest tier), $69.99 (next tier) and a 3-gigabit tier at $149.99; the company will include a Wi‑Fi 7 router with the first install and plans to expand availability as neighborhoods are lit.

Financing and timing: Town and Light Department staff said borrowed funds authorized during the early pandemic remain available for the broadband and other projects; staff anticipate setting a final borrowing term and returning to the board for approval when the number and schedule are firm. The Light Department has also made internal transfers between electric and broadband accounts to fund construction during the rollout.

Quotes and attribution: Kevin Shaughnessy, superintendent of the Light Department, and Daryl Hanson, assistant superintendent, broadband, provided the financial and rollout details. Jason Haber, assistant superintendent for electric distribution, summarized operational impacts during the recent heat wave.

What’s next: The Light Department expects continued construction through 2026 on the solar field and cable replacement projects and will continue phased customer installs and marketing for Northern Light broadband.